Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.